Family law team joins Brodies

Partners Shaun George, Richard Smith and Lisa Girdwood are joining Brodies’ personal and family department from 1 June this year.

The three Partners are bringing with them a 12-strong team including Associates Donna McKay, Lydia McLachlan and Nicola Kerr, senior solicitor Susie Mountain and solicitors Zoe Wray, Rachael Latcham and Louise Borrowman.

Managing partner Bill Drummond said the move would “enhance the breadth and depth” of the company’s family law services.

Shaun George, who is currently head of family law at Simpson & Marwick, will be heading up the family law team at Brodies, succeeding Scott Cochrane, who is continuing in his client partner role based in Edinburgh. Shaun, who sits on the national committee of Consensus Collaboration Scotland and is President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen, will be based in the company’s Aberdeen office.

Richard Smith will work alongside Scott Cochrane and others in the Edinburgh office, making full use of his expertise in resolving complex financial matters between spouses, particularly in cases involving business interest.

Lisa Girdwood, who will be primarily based in the Glasgow office, was previously head of family law and litigation at Bonar Mackenzie before joining Simpson & Marwick in 2011. She is an accredited mediator and trained collaborative lawyer, specialising in divorce, separation, child law and international child abduction.

Bill Drummond said: “Shaun, Richard and Lisa have an outstanding reputation among their clients and the Scottish legal sector alike for their expertise, which extends to mediation and collaborative family law.

“They are well known for their great discretion and effective resolution of challenging cases and for managing high-value and complex divorce and other family matters, often with international aspects.

“We are clearly delighted that they will be joining Scott and our wider Personal & Family team and expanding the comprehensive range of services we offer to individuals across Scotland and the growing numbers of international families with Scottish members and interests.

“Our integrated private client and business services are already enjoyed by many Brodies’ clients. This move is designed to enhance the breadth and depth of those services in a world where longevity, multi-jurisdictional asset ownership and growing legal and tax environment divergence and complexity all require careful consideration by individuals and families.”